Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-06
PERIL> OF MINING.
Scores of Men Killed bv rersible tx-
plo>ion Over a Hundred Miners >tiIl
Imprisoned in the tOlliery AT.
tempts to Rescue Them End in Dis tster.
NANAIMo, B c.. MAY ).

NANAIMo, b C., May ).
terrible explosion Of gas toos place
Tuesday evening IN No. shaft of the Van
touver Coal Co, mine. in which there were
upwards OF l5U miners al the time.
The ti.st iatinallon those on the surface
mad OF the explosion vas a terrific shock FOL
lowed by An outburst oi thick black smoke
through the air shaft. The first explosion
vas quickly followed oy a second, which was
much stronger. II carried pieces OF wood,
miners lamps, etc hundr -ds of feet into the
air In few minutes flames began to come
through the air shaft with a loud roaring
/ noise. The tan house soon caught fire ami
vas quickly consumed. In the meantime
Two white men and four Chinese were
brought up through No. /, or the hoisting
shait. Resculng parties continued in the
attempt TO Reach the entomoed men but we're
able TO rescue only 10 up 10 late hour last
night. lhe rescuing party were overcome
By af er damp and mad to be rescued them
selves by other rescuers. Samuel Hudson
succumbed to the effects of the after damp
The sceues around the shaft are most
heartrending. The friends OF those impris
oned below are looking for the missing, but
little hopes are entertained for their recov-
cry rescuing party will again attempt to
90 below.
a. olA " NlONh idsl SNthIug tiic uTc " as
still burning Fhe probability is that all the
imprisoned miners, VINO number l20. viii
perish.
Over one-half of the injured and impris,
oned men leave wives and families. Those
Imprisoned, as near as can be ascertained at
present, number in white men 81 Ii is esti
mated thtt between 80 and IS Cinnamon are
in the mine.
jules Michael, ole Of the injured, states
that he vas sitting in his cabin at supper In
No shaft. He felt the concussion. All
scrambled ont. He became lnsensible but
was the only nne OF four companions saved
The dead bodies OF the others came up in
cage with him Several of those rescued
hardly appreciate their miraculous escape
OWING 10 the daz d +, cling which characterlzes
all who come out from the deadl, pit.
Samuel lludron's heroic death is unac-
countable. He was miner of great expert
ence, while those who went with him to res
cue their fellows were comparatively mex
perienctd. He died from the effects of the
after damp. His brave deed is one of the
bright things IN the carnival of misery.
All day Yesterday gangs of men were
deavoring TO extnguIsh the flames in No. /
shaft, and the fire there is believed now to
be under control Fears are entertained of
another explosion which might blow the
whole place up, and old miners sav that such
result Is possible. If so, the catastrophe
would be the greatest recorded in the history
of coal mining. All hope of rescuing any
one now in the mine has been abandoned. Ii
was at first thought best to cut ditch u the
salt water SO as II attempt 70 put out the fire
in No. shaft by turning on stream, but
the scheme was abandoned. 1t would food
the mine, making it comparatively useless
tor year. and would Danish any hope there
might be of saving the lives of the men The
mines extend out from the shore more than
mile beneath the waters of the harbor.
Gloom hangs over the city. Business
houses are closed, coiieries shut up, and the
entire population is gathered at the scene of
of the disaster.
later despatch says that there are now
hopes of rescuing at least some of the i'm
prsoned men. fhe last rescuer to come up
savs he heard a pick striking On the wall of
a neighboring shaft.
The fire in the mines has considerably
abated A dense volume Of steam arises
from the air shaft.